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Political Clash Alert: Fadnavis’s ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun’ Remark Shakes Up MVA Ahead Of Budget

March 3, 2025, 8:26 am

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis lashed out at the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) on Sunday, criticizing their approach ahead of the upcoming assembly Budget session. At a joint press conference with his deputies, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Fadnavis highlighted the opposition’s failure to participate in a customary pre-session snack meeting, a gesture he claimed would have allowed for a “fluent conversation.”

Opposition’s Missed Opportunity

Fadnavis pointed out that the MVA had submitted a nine-page letter to the government, but skipped the pre-session “Chahapan” snack meeting that typically facilitates informal dialogue before formal proceedings. “The opposition has handed us a letter based solely on newspaper reports, missing out on the opportunity for meaningful discussion,” he stated. Fadnavis added, “The situation in the Opposition is ‘Hum Aapke Hain Kaun?’ not ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain?’ We will ensure they get a lengthy opportunity to speak in the House during the session.”

Budget Session Details

With the Budget session scheduled to begin on Monday and state Finance Minister Ajit Pawar set to present the Budget on March 10, the government is keen on moving forward. Deputy CM Ajit Pawar assured that despite the absence of the opposition at the pre-session meeting, the House would function smoothly. “We will definitely try to run this session smoothly,” Pawar said, emphasizing that procedural arrangements are in place.

Denying Internal Discord

In a display of unity, Fadnavis dismissed speculations of a rift between him and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. He mockingly compared Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut’s behavior to that of the legendary screenwriting duo Salim-Javed, adding, “There is no war. Those who know both of us will remember what we do when we are together.” Shinde further lightened the mood by noting, “Everything is thanda thanda, cool cool,” while Pawar humorously retorted, “What can I do if you couldn’t keep your chair,” prompting laughter among the trio.

A United Front Amid Political Rivalry

Fadnavis stressed that the ruling coalition—comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, and NCP—is working in unison to steer the state forward, dismissing rumors about stalled projects as mere speculation. “We are all working together. The talks about halted projects are completely false rumours,” he asserted, reinforcing the government’s commitment to progress.

As the Budget session draws near, the opposition’s decision to bypass the informal pre-session meeting has come under intense scrutiny. Fadnavis’s remarks underscore his determination to give the opposition ample opportunity to express their views in the House, while simultaneously defending the government’s track record and unity.

With the Budget session set to commence on Monday, the political spotlight remains firmly on the opposition’s handling of pre-session protocols and the government’s assurances of a smooth legislative process. As both sides prepare for a contentious debate, Fadnavis’s robust critique and the lighthearted exchanges among the ruling coalition highlight the vibrant, if at times contentious, nature of Maharashtra politics.

Odisha Budget Session to Resume on August 20: Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy

August 19, 2024, 7:14 pm

Odisha Assembly Speaker Surama Padhy announced on Monday that the second phase of the state’s budget session will commence on August 20 and continue until September 13. The session will primarily focus on discussing the demands and allocations in the state budget.

“The budget session will resume from tomorrow and will run until September 13. The main agenda will be discussions on the budget demands. Out of 147 MLAs, 84 are new, marking the beginning of their legislative careers, while many others have considerable experience,” Speaker Padhy stated.

She also highlighted the absence of the opposition during an orientation program for new legislators, which was attended by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, who spoke positively about Odisha’s parliamentary traditions.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the state’s ₹2.65 lakh crore budget for the 2024-25 fiscal year on July 25. The current budget reflects a nearly 15% increase over the previous year’s estimate of ₹2.30 lakh crore.

In his budget presentation, Majhi proposed allocating ₹33,919 crore towards agriculture, representing a 36% increase from the previous year’s budget. The budget breakdown includes ₹1.55 lakh crore for program expenditure, ₹97,725 crore for administrative expenditure, and ₹3,900 crore for disaster risk management funds.

The BJP hailed the budget as historic and development-oriented, while former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik criticized it as a mere rebranding of existing schemes. Patnaik, in a post on X, congratulated the new government on its first budget but sarcastically noted that over 80% of the schemes were simply renamed versions of those implemented by his government.

Patnaik also claimed that the BJP-led government has changed the names of 45 schemes, mocking their promise of being a “game changer” but ending up as a “name changer.” He added, “This budget reiterates the robustness, pro-people, and progressive nature of schemes designed and implemented by the BJD government. The remaining 20% allocation is what they will use to fulfill their manifesto promises.”

The upcoming session is expected to witness intense debates on these issues as the budget discussions unfold.

Historically Speaking: New Budget Session vs Past; Opposition Disruptions Explained

August 3, 2024, 4:55 pm

Dr. Aishwariya Pandit Sharma and Joyeeta Basu delves into the 2024 Budget Session on the YouTube channel ‘Historically Speaking’. They discuss how this session differs from previous ones, emphasizing the opposition’s disruptions and their influence on parliamentary proceedings.

Known for its captivating discussions on politics and art, the channel examines the intersections of history, politics, and culture through interviews and analyses. Additionally, it investigates how art influences and shapes societal understanding.

The session explores the Union Budget 2024, questioning whether the real focus was on opposition aggression or if it served as a diversion. It considers whether young MPs are choosing trolling over meaningful debate.

Noteworthy incidents, such as a senior opposition leader’s ‘Mataji’ remark, are examined for their impact on political courtesy. The discussion also contrasts the UK’s engaging parliamentary debates with the suppression of the Prime Minister’s voice in the Indian Parliament. Additionally, the analysis extends to the UP election, debating if Akhilesh Yadav emerged as the real winner over Rahul Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi Claims Indian Education System is Corrupt and Buyable; Dharmendra Pradhan Denies Allegations

July 22, 2024, 12:50 pm

On Monday, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition, sharply criticized the government over the NEET exam paper leak allegations, describing the issue as a “very serious problem” within the country’s examination system. Speaking during the Budget Session in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi questioned Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan about what actions are being taken to address the “systemic” flaws in the examination process. He asserted that millions of students believe the examination system is “fraud” and can be bought by those with money.

Gandhi expanded on his criticism, stating that the problem extends beyond just the NEET exam to all major exams in India. He criticized Education Minister Pradhan for not grasping the severity of the situation and claimed that Pradhan had blamed everyone except himself. Gandhi emphasized that many students are troubled by the belief that wealth can influence the examination system, and this sentiment is shared by people in the Opposition as well.

In response, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan dismissed Gandhi’s remarks as “lies,” arguing that shouting does not make falsehoods true. He defended the examination system, saying there has been no proven case of paper leaks in the past seven years. Pradhan noted that over 240 exams were conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in that period, involving more than 5 crore students, and emphasized that the current case is under Supreme Court review.

Additionally, Samajwadi Party MP Akhilesh Yadav criticized the government, suggesting it will be remembered for frequent paper leaks and claiming that some centers had more than 2,000 students pass under dubious circumstances.

The Budget Session of Parliament, which started today, will include 16 sittings over 22 days. Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju announced that the session will focus mainly on financial matters related to the Union Budget for 2024-25, which will be presented to the Lok Sabha on July 23.

Why BJP Introduced ‘Samvidhan Hatya Divas’ Before July 23 Budget Session?

July 13, 2024, 2:50 pm

In June, the term ‘Samvidhan’ (Constitution) gained prominence across India, from the streets to Parliament. Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, clad in a crisp white t-shirt, carried a small version of the Constitution while taking oath as Rae Bareli MP, concluding his speech with ‘Jai Samvidhan’ (Hail Constitution). His gesture was echoed by several Opposition MPs.

The government’s move to introduce a resolution on emergency to counter the Congress’s stance was expected. However, the surprise came when the Narendra Modi government issued a gazette notification declaring June 25 as ‘Samvidhan Hatya Divas’ (Constitution Murder Day), to be observed annually. This date marks the imposition of Emergency by Indira Gandhi in 1975.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the Emergency as an unexpected opportunity (Aapda Mein Avsar) that allowed him to engage with diverse political ideologies and perspectives. The government’s proactive stance ahead of the upcoming budget session reflects its strategy of offense as the best defense.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized Indira Gandhi for her “dictatorial mindset” in a post on X, contrasting sharply with Rahul Gandhi’s advocacy for ‘Saving Constitution’. This move by the Modi government appears to be part of a broader strategy aimed at confronting the Congress.

Last month, during a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, President Droupadi Murmu referred to the Emergency as “the biggest and darkest chapter of direct attack on the Constitution.”

The decision to take an offensive approach is motivated by two primary reasons. Firstly, it counters the Congress’s narrative that BJP opposes the Constitution, which has been effective in shaping public opinion, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh. Secondly, it puts other parties, like Janata Dal (United), Samajwadi Party, and Rashtriya Janata Dal, which also faced challenges during the Emergency, in a difficult position if they oppose BJP’s initiative.

The annual observance of Samvidhan Hatya Divas aims to educate younger generations, who may be unaware of the atrocities of the Emergency era, including mass sterilization campaigns and political arrests. By bringing this history into public discourse annually, the BJP seeks to challenge the Congress’s legacy and sway public opinion.

Overall, the government’s notification serves multiple strategic purposes, aiming to consolidate its stance on the Constitution while reshaping historical narratives for contemporary political advantage.

Delhi BJP MLAs Challenge Suspension in HC

February 19, 2024, 12:36 pm

Delhi BJP MLAs who were suspended for the remainder of the Delhi Assembly’s Budget session have filed a petition with the Delhi High Court challenging the suspension order.
The bench comprising Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora allowed the petition to be mentioned for urgent listing on Monday and decided to hear it on Monday itself.

Senior Advocate Jayant Mehta raised the issue before the bench on behalf of the BJP MLAs. It was argued that the suspension of opposition MLAs is absolutely incorrect, and their right to participate in the proceedings is jeopardized.
Mehta further stated that the proposal to suspend the MLAs is unconstitutional and contrary to the regulations.

The budget session of the Delhi Assembly began on February 15, 2024, with the LG detailing the AAP-led Delhi government’s policies, initiatives, and efforts in education, health, transportation, social welfare, infrastructure, and other areas.
It was claimed that when Saxena began his address highlighting AAP achievements, BJP MLA and erstwhile opposition leader Vijender Gupta interrupted. Later, other BJP MLAs proceeded to interrupt LG’s speech as he emphasized the government’s many achievements.

On Friday, after the decision to suspend the BJP MLAs from the Delhi legislative assembly was taken, Delhi Minister & AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj had said, “A few days back in the upper house of the Parliament, Rajya Sabha, it was seen that a few members were suspended for the time till the report of privilege committee came… These small houses (state assemblies) take inspiration from the biggest house (parliament)… Interrupting LG address was a big issue and according to the code of conduct, it is to be seen as a case of contempt of the house…”

PM Modi to reply on ‘Motion of Thanks’ in Rajya Sabha today

February 7, 2024, 10:00 am

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to respond to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. President Droupadi Murmu had addressed the joint sitting of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on January 31, marking the commencement of the Budget Session.

PM Modi already responded to the Motion of Thanks in Lok Sabha on Monday, expressing optimism about the upcoming elections. He projected that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would secure 400 seats, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) individually winning 370 seats in the next term.

During his Lok Sabha address, PM Modi highlighted the achievements of his government, including the construction of the Ram Temple and the abrogation of Article 370. He emphasized the empowerment of women through initiatives like the Nari Shakti Adhiniyam and cited the completion of long-pending projects.

In his words, “A Ram Temple of Lord Ram was built which will continue to give new energy to the great tradition of India. Now the third term of our government is not far. Maximum 100 days left. The whole country is saying that ‘Abki baar 400 paar.’ I don’t go into numbers, but I can see the mood of the country. It will make the NDA cross 400, and BJP will get 370 seats.”

The Rajya Sabha is set to engage in a general discussion on the Union Interim Budget 2024-25 and the Interim Budget on Jammu and Kashmir 2024-25 after PM Modi’s address. Additionally, several Members of Parliament will table reports and statements related to various committees and ministries, covering topics like regulation of weights and measures, transformation of fair price shops, and the status of coal import trends and self-reliance in the coal sector.

The Budget Session, which began on January 31, is scheduled for eight sittings over 10 days, with a potential conclusion on February 9.

FM Sitharaman to present The Finance Bill 2024 in Lok Sabha today

February 6, 2024, 9:35 am

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to present The Finance Bill, 2024, for consideration and passage in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. The Lower House will also engage in a general discussion on the Interim Union Budget for 2024-25, presented on February 1 during the ongoing Budget Session. The agenda includes a proposal to continue the existing income-tax rates for the financial year 2024-2025 and provide relief to taxpayers. Union Home Minister will move a Bill to amend the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Act, 2000, and the Jammu and Kashmir Municipal Corporation Act, 2000.

In the Rajya Sabha, discussions on the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address will resume, and Union Minister Arjun Munda will introduce the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, aiming to modify the list of Scheduled Tribes in relation to the State of Andhra Pradesh. Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi will move a motion to suspend certain provisions for the consideration and passage of several bills, including the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, the Constitution (Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024.

Additionally, Union Minister Bhupender Yadav is expected to present the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Amendment Bill, 2024, for consideration and passage in the Rajya Sabha. During Monday’s Lok Sabha session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded to the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, expressing confidence in the NDA winning over 400 seats in the upcoming elections and highlighting achievements, including the construction of the Ram Temple and the abolition of Article 370.

Govt will encourage vaccination for girls to prevent cervical cancer: Nirmala Sitharaman

February 1, 2024, 1:23 pm

During her interim budget speech, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the government’s initiative to encourage vaccination for girls aged 9 to 14 years to prevent cervical cancer. She highlighted the government’s commitment to improving healthcare services by setting up more medical colleges and serving the people.

“Several youth aspire to become doctors to serve our people through improved healthcare services. Our government plans to establish more medical colleges by utilizing existing hospital infrastructure under various departments. A committee will be set up to examine the issues and make relevant recommendations,” Sitharaman stated.

She also mentioned the extension of health coverage under the Ayushman Bharat scheme to all ASHA and Anganwadi workers and helpers. Sitharaman emphasized the consolidation of various schemes for maternal and child care into one comprehensive program for effective implementation.

“Upgradation of Anganwadi centers under ‘Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0’ will be expedited for improved nutrition delivery, early childhood care, and development,” she added. Additionally, the Finance Minister announced the swift rollout of the newly designed U-WIN platform for managing immunization and intensified efforts of Mission Indradhanush throughout the country.

The ‘Ayushman Bhav’ initiative aims to saturate healthcare services in every village or town, ensuring accessibility to healthcare for everyone in society. The initiative includes interventions such as ‘Ayushman – Apke Dwar 3.0’, ‘Ayushman Sabhas’, ‘Ayushman Melas at Health and Wellness Level and Medical Camps by Medical Colleges at CHCs,’ with the goal of achieving the status of ‘Ayushman Panchayat’ or ‘Ayushman Urban Ward’ in saturation mode for Gram/Nagar Panchayats or Urban Wards.

Centuries-old aspirations turned into reality: President Murmu highlights Ram Temple construction at joint address

January 31, 2024, 2:27 pm

On Wednesday, President Droupadi Murmu remarked that the long-standing aspirations for the construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya have become a reality, addressing a joint sitting of Parliament at the commencement of the Budget Session. Representing the Central government, she highlighted the completion of several works in the last decade that were eagerly awaited by the people of India. Specifically, she emphasized the fulfillment of the centuries-old aspiration for the construction of the Ram Temple, officially inaugurated in Uttar Pradesh on January 22.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his media interaction before the Budget Session, began and concluded his address with the salutation ‘Ram Ram.’ The President acknowledged the historic significance of 2023, citing it as a year when India maintained the status of the fastest-growing major economy, achieving a growth of about 7.5 percent for two consecutive quarters.

President Murmu delivered her first address in the new Parliament building, expressing confidence that meaningful conversations on policies would take place in this symbolic structure. She described the building as embodying the essence of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshth Bharat’ and expressed its commitment to honoring democratic and parliamentary traditions while building new traditions for the 21st-century India.

Speaking about her government’s achievements over the past decade, President Murmu highlighted the substantial progress in poverty alleviation, stating, “Today, for the first time in our lives, we see poverty being alleviated on a large scale.”

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to present the interim Union Budget on Thursday. This session, expected to be the last before Lok Sabha polls in April-May, will provide eight sittings spread over ten days. The interim budget is designed to address fiscal needs during the period until a new government is formed after the Lok Sabha polls.

Kerala Assembly: Oppn members carry placards, protest death of Kozhikode man

January 29, 2024, 3:06 pm

The Budget session of the Kerala Legislative Assembly witnessed disruptions on Monday, with a few Opposition members displaying placards to disrupt the proceedings of the House.
The protesting members carried placards that complained about the alleged delay in pension benefits for about sixty lakh people and the death by alleged suicide of differently abled man in Kozhikode, allegedly due to non-payment of social welfare pension dues.
On delay over disbursing social security pension to recipients, Leader of Opposition in Kerala Assembly, VD Satheesan said, “… Social security pension of more than 50 lakh people of the state has been pending since the last five months. The deserving people are either physically disabled, old, or widows. But this is not the government’s priority… The government had nothing to say about this so we had to boycott the proceedings of the assembly… Many others are on the brim of committing suicide because this pension is the only source of their income…”
Citing financial pressure, the distribution of welfare pensions was stopped for a few months.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in a pre-budget press conference, said that the central government’s policies were the main hindrances to its efforts to create a new Kerala.
Addressing the press meet, the chief minister said that despite the good achievements in its own tax revenue and domestic production, the financial crisis arising as part of the central government’s policies is tightening the state. He asserted that the opposition, which should stand up for the people against these bad policies, instead attacked the government.
As per the recommendations of the 15th Finance Commission, Kerala can borrow up to 3 per cent of its domestic revenue unconditionally and 0.5 per cent subject to the implementation of reforms in the power sector.
The chief minister alleged that the central government has reduced Kerala’s loan limit with retrospective effect from 2021-22 by including the loans taken by independent institutions in the state’s loan limit. Due to this, he alleged that there has been a reduction of Rs 6,000 crore in the total credit limit for Kerala in the financial year 2023-24.
Vijayan had asserted that the main source of revenue for the state is tax allocation from the centre and resource transfer through centrally initiated schemes. The state Budget for 2024-25 will be tabled on February 5. The Budget session that started on January 25 is scheduled to continue until March 5.

TMC MPs protest with black cloth around their faces during Budget Session

March 16, 2023, 3:30 pm

On Thursday, Trinamool Congress MPs entered the Rajya Sabha Well with black cloth tied around their mouths, causing both Houses to adjourn. A similar protest was seen in the Lok Sabha as well.

Opposition MPs have been protesting against the government, demanding a JPC investigation into the allegations against the Adani Group. The party’s MPs from both Houses entered the Well before the Presiding Officers arrived, wearing black cloth around their faces.

They kept pointing to the Treasury benches and yelling “Ministers and MPs from the BJP are not allowing the opposition to speak. Refusing to allow the opposition to express themselves.” In a statement, the MPs said that they will be repeating the protest at 2:00 p.m.

Budget Session: Both Houses adjourn amid disruptions

March 16, 2023, 1:02 pm

Both Houses Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were adjourned on Thursday because the Congress and other opposition parties were insisting on a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the Adani-Hindenburg row.

Meanwhile, BJP members were demanding an apology from Rahul Gandhi for remark that he made in London. Earlier today, Congress MP Ranjit Ranjan issued a suspension of business notice in Rajya Sabha and demanded discussions on the Adani issue.

In a notice under Rule 267, Ranjit Ranjan said, “Government has failed in constituting a Joint Parliamentary Committee to investigate the serious charges of corporate fraud, political corruption, stock market manipulation and financial mismanagement against the Adani group”.

In another news, Syed Naseer Hussain of Congress Party gave suspension of business notice under Rule 267 in the Rajya Sabha on “worrying trend of declining freedom of speech and expression in the country”.

Notably, Parliament was disrupted continuously for the third day in a row on Wednesday. The second half of the budget session had begun on Monday and had been disrupted. The BJP has accused Congress President Rahul Gandhi for disparaging India’s institutions on foreign soil.

Uttarakhand budget session begins, Congress protests outside the assembly

March 13, 2023, 4:25 pm

The budget session of the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly has begun in Bhararisain, Uttarakhand. Before the assembly proceedings, the Congress MLAs staged a sit-in protest outside the Vidhan Sabha. Congress MLAs demanded that a CBI inquiry be initiated into alleged irregularities in several recruitment examinations in the state.

Congress MLAs were seen sitting on the steps of the assembly premises, holding placards, and demanding that CM Dhami solve the issue of unemployment in the state. After persuasion by Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, all the Congress MLAs went to the house. Uttarakhand CM Dhami on Monday said the state budget will help contribute to the state’s development.

“The budget session will start today. Our government’s vision for the state of Uttarakhand is reflected in this budget. We hope all the leaders will contribute to the development of the state,” he said.

The Chamoli district administration on Monday banned procession activities from Diwalikhal to Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha in view of the budget session. Section 144 CrPC has been imposed in the area from Diwalikhal to the Assembly premises.

Mikes switched off in Parliament whenever we raise Adani issue: Mallikarjun Kharge

March 13, 2023, 2:52 pm

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge came down heavily on Monday on the BJP-led central government, alleging that microphones are switched off whenever the opposition raised the Adani issue in the Parliament.

Talking to media-persons outside Parliament, Kharge said, “There is no rule of law and democracy under Modi. They are running the country like a dictatorship, and then they talk about democracy.” “We are demanding the constitution of JPC on the Adani stock issue. When we raise this issue, then microphones are switched off and a ruckus erupts in the House,” the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said.

“Whatever Rahul ji has said about democracy, he raised it in the Rajya Sabha. This is wrong according to the rules,” Kharge claimed. “How can they raise questions about someone who’s not even part of the house? The Leader of the House spoke for 10 minutes, and the LoP was given just two minutes. What rule is this? This is the end of democracy, and that’s what he said in the seminar,” Kharge said.

On Monday, the second leg of the budget session of Parliament resumed after a month-long break. The Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 p.m. shortly after it reconvened this morning. There was a ruckus by the opposition after Leader of the House Piyush Goyal sought an apology from Rahul Gandhi over his statement in London. The Lok Sabha was also adjourned till 2 p.m. The second leg of the ongoing budget session will continue until April 6.

Previously, in the last session, the opposition demanded a JPC probe into the Adani-Hindenburg row, due to which the session faced repeated disruptions. The concerned report from US-based short-seller firm Hindenburg Research surfaced on January 24, claiming that the Adani Group had weak business fundamentals, and was involved in stock manipulation and accounting fraud, among others.

Budget Session: Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha adjourned till 2 pm

February 2, 2023, 1:39 pm

Both houses of Parliament were adjourned till 2 PM on Thursday after opposition demanded a discussion on the Hindenburg report on the Adani conglomerate. Soon after the parliament began its proceedings, the opposition demanded discussion. Amid sloganeering by opposition benches, Lok Sabha was adjourned. The Rajya Sabha was also adjourned till 2 pm today.

Union Budget 2023: Start-ups get warm hug from govt, IT-benefits extend till March 31 next year

February 1, 2023, 5:49 pm

In her Budget speech on Wednesday, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that the government proposed an extension of the date of incorporation for income tax benefits to start-ups from 31 March 31 2023 to 31 March 31 2024.

According to the Union Budget, the government also said it would provide the benefit of carry-forward of losses on change of shareholding of start-ups from seven years of incorporation to 10 years.

During her Budget speech in Parliament today, the finance minister also announced an agriculture accelerator fund that will be set up to encourage agriculture based start-ups by young entrepreneurs in rural areas. This will aim at bringing innovative and affordable solutions for challenges faced by farmers. It will also bring in modern technologies to transform agricultural practices and increase productivity and profitability.

In her speech, Sitharaman also added that a similar digital document wallet will be launched for business entities as well. “An entity DigiLocker will be set up for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), large businesses and charitable trusts. This will be towards storing and sharing documents online securely, whenever needed with various authorities, regulators, banks, and business entities,” Sitharaman said.

According to government data, DigiLocker has onboarded more than 14.6 crore individuals on the platform, and issued 5.6 billion documents. Among the top issued documents are Aadhaar Card, policy documents, PAN verification records, and insurance policy for two-wheelers.

The Finance Minister said that to unleash innovation and research by start-ups and academia, a National Data Governance Policy will be brought out, which will enable access to anonymized data.

Sitharaman announced that an Entity DigiLocker will be set up for use by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, large business and charitable trusts for storing and sharing documents online securely, whenever needed, with various authorities, regulators, banks and other business entities.

Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports gets a boost of highest ever budget

February 1, 2023, 4:36 pm

India is all set to play in the Asian Games later this year and the Paris Olympics next year. The centre has furthered its efforts in strengthening the sports arena by allocating the highest ever budget of 3397.32 crores under union budget 2023-2024.

Last year, the sports sector received a budget of Rs 3062.60 crore, which means there has been an increase of 334.72 cr.

‘Khelo India — National Programme for Development of Sports’ India’s flagship sports scheme is being allotted Rs 1,045 crore as against the revised budget of Rs 606 crore in 2022.

The National Sports Federations (NSFs) have received an increase from the previous year’s revised budget of Rs 280 crore and will now get Rs 325 crore.

India was faced with a record number of dope violations this year. The government has now pivoted from its earlier policy of allocating the budget for the National Anti-Doping Agency (NADA), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), and the National Dope Testing Laboratory (NDTL) to the Sports Authority of India.

NADA ( 21.73 cr), NDTL (19.50 cr) and India’s contribution to WADA (4 cr)will take place individually and not under the Sports Authority of India.

Union Budget 2023 eyes Green and Sustainable future

February 1, 2023, 4:14 pm

The last detailed budget of the present government was laid on the table today. The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented a budget that spoke of simplicity while focusing on a bigger target. According to the minister, this budget would lay the foundation for a self-reliant India. The major focus was on Green Growth and Digitization. The world has been grappling with many environmental and ecological challenges. With this budget, Nirmala Sitharaman tried to steer the focus on reducing the carbon intensity of the sub-continent.

In her speech, she stated that the government would be focusing on meeting clean energy targets and providing large-scale green job opportunities. ‘Green Growth’ was one of the seven key points of union budget 2023, wherein the minister spoke about the initiatives this government is planning to initiate towards, green fuel, green farming, green mobility, green buildings, and green equipment.

In her address, the finance minister said that India is moving toward net zero carbon emissions by 2070 to usher in green industrial and economic transition.

Accelerating Green Hydrogen Mission

A large budget of 19700 crore was announced for the recently launched National Green Hydrogen Mission. The mission would focus on transitioning India towards low carbon intensity economy while reducing the dependence on fossil fuel imports. The targeted annual production is of 500 MMT (million metric tonnes) of green hydrogen by 2030.

Transition towards Zero Carbon Emission

Narendra Modi led BJP government is targeting net zero carbon emission and has allocated a sum rupees 35,000 crores for priority capital investment toward energy transition, net zero objectives, and energy security by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Green revolution through old vehicle scrapping

The Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman allocated more funds towards the Vehicle Scrapping Policy mentioned in Budget 2021-22. States will also be supported in replacing old vehicles and old State ambulances. Also, the minister announced the viability gap funding for battery energy storage systems with a capacity of 4,000 MWh (megawatt hour).

Building an interstate transmission system for evacuation and grid integration of 13 Gigawatt renewable energy from Ladakh, with an investment of 20,700 crore (central support of 8300 crore) was also announced.

Union Budget 2023: Opposition criticises the new budget

February 1, 2023, 3:18 pm

While the salaried class is happy with the new tax slab that are introduced in the budget 2023, the opposition is not much liking the simplified budget. One of the firsts to react was Bihar Deputy Chief Minister, Tejashwi Yadav. He said, “Bihar is a backward state. The PM and the centre had made commitments to grant Bihar a special package and status several times before. I do not think anything of this sort will be done. They have only fooled us. Let us see what is being done for Bihar in the budget.”

The deputy chief minister also compared the previous budgets with the ones presented by the BJP-led government now. Comparing this budget with the previous ones, he added, “There is a lot of difference between previous budgets and the budget now. During UPA’s time, there was a separate railway budget. The present government has totally removed the railway budget. Now the common budget is small without any detailing. The people should be clearly told about the revenue and the expenditure. People should be told where the money is coming from and where is it going.”

Actor and Politician Shatrughan Sinha targeted the government and said, “The budget was presented keeping in mind the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and there was nothing special mention for the middle-class people. Looking at the budget, it seems as if it has been created to specially care about the ‘Hum Do Humare Do’ as it is evident from the significantly reduced highest slab for Income Tax payers. People understand it well whom have they done it for.” Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, during the Budget session today, announced an increase in the income tax rebate limit from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 7 lakh stating that the new tax regime will now be the default tax regime.

Further, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the government over its changed income tax slab and said, “Changes in income tax slabs will not help anyone.”

Reacting to the Budget 2023, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh tweeted, “Last year’s Budget drew applause for allocation towards agriculture, health, education, MGNREGA & welfare of SCs. Today the reality is evident. Actual expenditure is substantially lower than budgeted. This is Modi’s OPUD strategy of headline management—Over Promise, Under Deliver.”

Union budget 2023: Key Points

February 1, 2023, 1:18 pm

The finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has just laid the union budget 2023 before the house. This was the fifth time that the lady finance minister presented the budget and the last time before the next general election that are scheduled next year. In a nutshell, budget 2023 is a futuristic budget where the finance minister spoke about need of energy conservation, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digitization as the foundation for next 50 years. She spoke about an all-inclusive budget where the focus was “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas”.

The many tax reforms and tax exemptions will definitely ease the burden of inflation from middle-class. This budget was created around seven key points which were;

Inclusive Development
Reaching the last mile
Infra and Investment
Unleashing the potential
Green Growth
Youth Power
Financial Sector

Some of the important highlights announced today were an agriculture accelerator fund will be set up to help agri startups in the country and the government has announced to raise farm credit target to Rs 20 lakh crore.

The FM also announced PM Vishwa Karma Kaushal Samman which will be a package of assistance for traditional artisans and craftsmen. The government said it would improve quality, scale and scale of their products, which will integrate these entrepreneurs with MSME value chain.

Other highlights of the Union Budget 2023 are:

There are no changes to the existing Tax System
Allocation for PM Awas Yojana raised by 66 percent
Individuals with income of Rs 15.5 lakh and above will now be eligible for standard deduction of Rs 52,500 in new tax regime in Budget 2023.
Standard deduction is hiked to Rs 52,500 in new tax regime
An individual with annual income of Rs 9 lakh will have to pay only Rs 45,000
Now anyone can update address, identity proof easily via DigiLocker

Budget 2023: Fin Minister calls for ‘Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas’

February 1, 2023, 11:38 am

The Budget 2023 is being read by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman for the last time before the next election in 2024. The union budget 2023, this year is focused on building a more strengthened digital support to various industries and fields in India.

Nirmala Sitharaman began her speech speaking about the need of Inclusive development that would cover all Agriculture, Education, Tribal, Economically weaker sections, neglected sections and others. She focused on “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas” and “Vanchito ko Variyta”.

The budget was focused on digitizing all the sectors and boosting the growth with the help of modern technology. Many PM schemes like PM Matsya Yojna and PM Housing scheme would be reinforced with sub-schemes to benefit the marginalised.

The FM pushed for a tech and knowledge-driven India. The buzz is that Nirmala Sitharaman’s fifth budget will have sops for India’s middle class and lower middle class, while she balances between populism and prudence. One key announcement is likely to be on changes to the income tax structure.

The government reportedly may introduce a new tax slab at Rs 8-10 lakh with a tax rate of 10-15 percent against 20 percent currently.

Budget 2023: Sitharaman reaches North Block

February 1, 2023, 10:38 am

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday morning arrived at the Ministry of Finance in the North Block in the Central Secretariat building ahead of the Budget presentation today in Parliament.

This Budget marks the last Budget of Prime Minister Narendra Modi government in the Parliament of this term. The Finance Minister will table the Union Budget 2023-24 at 11 am in Lok Sabha today, following which she will address the House.

The government will present the Union Budget in paperless form like the previous two ones. The government had presented the first paperless budget in 2021.

On Tuesday, Sitharaman tabled the Economic Survey for the Financial Year 2022-23 in Lok Sabha, which said that India’s economic recovery from the Covid pandemic is complete and the economy is expected to grow in the range of 6 per cent to 6.8 per cent in the coming financial year 2023-24.

This is in comparison to 7 per cent this fiscal and 8.7 per cent in 2021-22. In view of the upcoming budget, top business leaders of the country have also put forward their suggestions for Nirmala Sitharaman.

Arihant Infrastructures, CMD, Ashok Chhajer told ANI on Monday that the government should focus on reducing home loan rates. “The government should reduce home loan rates. The affordable housing segment, which is capped at Rs 45 lakh, should be changed to Rs 60-75 lakh which is the average cost of a house in Metro cities and 2-tier cities,” said Chhajer.

Hiranandani Group MD, Niranjan Hiranandani said the Budget should focus on further investments in roads, railways, ports, airports and highways, as well as slum rehabilitation schemes.

“There should be more focus on further investments in roads, railways, ports, airports and highways. The focus must also be on the slum rehabilitation schemes to make India a slum-free country,” said Hiranandani.

The Budget Session of the Parliament began on January 31 with President Droupadi Murmu’s Address to the joint session of both houses.

The President touched upon various subjects during her inaugural address, which was her first one after being elected to the topmost office of the country last year. She mentioned women empowerment, India’s defence exports, and Aatmanirbhar Bharat by 2047 among others.

Ahead of the President’s Address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the media outside the Parliament. Prime Minister Modi said that India’s Budget will attempt to meet the hopes and aspirations of the common citizens amid the unstable global economic situation.

“Our Finance Minister will present one more Budget before the country tomorrow. In today’s global circumstances, not only India but the entire world is looking at India’s budget,” PM Modi said.

The Prime Minister firmly exuded confidence that Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will make efforts to meet the expectations.

“Amid the unstable global economic situation, India’s budget will attempt to meet the hopes and aspirations of the common citizens. The ray of hope being seen by the world grows brighter-for this, I firmly believe that Nirmala Sitharaman will make all efforts to meet those aspirations,” PM Modi said while addressing the media.

The Prime Minister cited the “credible voices from the world of economy” and said that they have brought a positive message ahead of the session.

“Today, the Budget Session is commencing. Credible voices from the world of economy, have brought in a positive message, a ray of hope and a beginning of enthusiasm,” he said.

The budget session that began on Tuesday with the President’s address will take place in 27 sittings till April 6 with a month-long recess to examine the budget papers.

The first part of the session will conclude on February 13. Parliament will reconvene on March 12 for the second part of the Budget Session and will conclude on April 6.

Increased demand in exports boosted the growth: Economic Survey

January 31, 2023, 3:57 pm

A surge in growth of exports in FY22 and the first half of FY23 induced a shift in the gears of the production process from mild acceleration to cruise mode.

India progresses as fastest-growing economy in the world: Econ Survey

January 31, 2023, 3:54 pm

The nominal terms has been projected at 11 per cent in next fiscal

Econ Survey: Economic recovery from Covid pandemic

January 31, 2023, 3:51 pm

The Indian economy has recovered from Pandemic as per the economy survey.

India’s GDP growth projected at 6.5 percent: Economic Survey

January 31, 2023, 3:47 pm

The Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday tabled the Economic Survey for the Financial Year 2022-23, after the President’s address, on the first day of the Union Budget Session 2023-24.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today tabled the economic survey. The survey projected the economic growth of India in the range of 6%-6.8% in the coming financial year.

Chief Economic Advisor Dr V Anantha Nageswaran in a press conference in the national capital said that the India Monetary Fund (IMF) in its World Economic Outlook Update, has maintained India’s GDP forecast for current Fiscal Year at 6.8 per cent, the next Fiscal Year at 6.1 per cent and for 2024-25 at 6.8 per cent.

The Economic Survey document said the growth projection is broadly comparable to the estimates provided by multilateral agencies such as the World Bank, the IMF, the Asian Development Bank and the Reserve Bank of India.

“The actual outcome for real GDP growth will probably lie in the range of 6.0 per cent to 6.8 per cent, depending on the trajectory of economic and political developments globally,” the survey read.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today tabled the Economic Survey for 2022-23 in the Parliament, a day ahead of the national Budget for next financial year.

The Budget session of Parliament began today with an address of President Droupadi Murmu of the joint sitting of the two houses of Parliament.

The Economic Survey said that India remains the fastest-growing major economy in the world GDP in nominal terms has been projected at 11 per cent in next fiscal.

Meanwhile, RBI projects 6.8 per cent inflation this fiscal outside the upper target limit, which the Economic Survey says is “not high enough to deter private consumption, also not too low to weaken inducement to invest.”

A return of migrant workers to construction activities helped housing market witnessing a significant decline in inventory overhang to 33 months in Q3 of FY 23 from 42 months last year.

A surge in growth of exports in FY22 and the first half of FY23 induced a shift in the gears of the production process from mild acceleration to cruise mode.

Private Consumption as a percentage of GDP stood at 58.4 per cent in the second quarter OF FY23, the highest among the second quarters of all the years since 2013-14 supported by a rebound in contact -intensive services such as trade, hotel and transport survey points to the lower forecast for growth in global trade by the World Trade Organisation from 3.5 per cent in 2022 to 1.0 per cent in 2023

The Economic Survey document, formulated under the supervision of the chief economic adviser V Anantha Nageswaran, provides insights into the state of the economy and various indicators in the current financial year 2022-23 (April-March) and outlook for the next year.

The Economy Survey may also give some idea about the tone and texture of the actual Budget for 2023-24, to be presented tomorrow.

Budget 2023 is likely to be the last full Budget of the Modi government in its second term with the next Lok Sabha election due in April-May of 2024. Like the previous two Union Budgets, Union Budget 2023-24 will also be delivered in paperless form.

India’s economy to be steady at 6%-6.8%: Economic Survey

January 31, 2023, 3:33 pm

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today tabled the economic survey. The survey projected the economic growth of India in the range of 6%-6.8% in the coming financial year.

Chief Economic Advisor Dr V Anantha Nageswaran in a press conference in the national capital said that the India Monentary Fund (IMF) in its World Economic Outlook Update, has maintained India’s GDP forecast for current Fiscal Year at 6.8 per cent, the next Fiscal Year at 6.1 per cent and for 2024-25 at 6.8 per cent.

The Budget 2023 will be presented in the parliament tomorrow by the Finance Minsiter.

In the joint session President Murmu praises the Govt for its headstrong approach

January 31, 2023, 1:26 pm

President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday addressed the joint sitting of Parliament, with the commencement of the Budget Session 2023. This was President Murmu’s first address to the joint sitting of Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha members after assuming office.

In her speech, the presidents lauded the efforts of the government and said, “Today, India’s self-confidence is at its highest and the world is looking at us from a different perspective. India is providing solutions to the world.”

The President insisted on building a Aatmanirbhar Bharat by 2047. She said, “We need to build an India which will not have poverty, a country whose middle class will also be prosperous, an India whose youth and women will stand at the front to show a path to society and the country, an India whose youth stays two steps ahead of time.”

She praised the government for its firm decision making while highlighting abrogation of article 370 in Jammu & Kashmir, abolishing Triple Talaq among others.

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